How much maintenance does a custom loop need?

[Guest]

I'm planning to make a soft tubed loop in my next build. How often would I need to change the fluids?

[mbntr]

6 months to a year

[mbntr]

21 minutes ago, Berkomeister said:

I'm planning to make a soft tubed loop in my next build. How often would I need to change the fluids?

It also depends on the tubing, in some cases transparent tubes can go bad and leach plasticizer into the loop, then you have to change them too.

I would highly suggest using EK ZMT tubes, looks sick and don't require much maintenance at all.

[Deli]

3 hours ago, mbntr said:

It also depends on the tubing, in some cases transparent tubes can go bad and leach plasticizer into the loop, then you have to change them too.

I would highly suggest using EK ZMT tubes, looks sick and don't require much maintenance at all.

I really like the matte-black industrial look. Alphacool TPV is the same as EK ZMT. Or Tygon 6012 Norprene is similar type of material.

[mbntr]

On 9/29/2020 at 12:14 PM, Deli said:

I really like the matte-black industrial look. Alphacool TPV is the same as EK ZMT. Or Tygon 6012 Norprene is similar type of material.

agree, these tubes are sick 

[SolarNova]

On 9/29/2020 at 6:59 AM, Berkomeister said:

I'm planning to make a soft tubed loop in my next build. How often would I need to change the fluids?

Primarily depends on the coolant used.

 

Using colored coolant requires more frequent maintenance, using an opaque colored coolant more still. So at least once a year.

Using a coolant like Vue or Aurora even more still, every couple months.

 

Using a simple coolant like plain Distilled + a biocide and corrosion inhibitor and not placed in direct sunlight can last years with occasional ph testing to add more biocide and inhibitor and occasional top up of fluid.

 

The tubing used can also have an effects. Using soft tubing, especialy clear soft tubing will mean ull likely want to replace the tubing every year as it will cloud over time. Opaque tubing doesnt have this aesthetic issue but will still very slowly degrade.

Best tubing for longevity is glass for rigid design, and something like the black TPV tubing for soft tubed designs.

 

I personally have used a distilled water solution for 4 years without maintenance, no performance issues, but i was using opaque waterblocks which when disassembled after those years, had corrosion of the nickel plating, so if it was transparent acrylic it would not have looked great at all.

I now run a anti corrosives in my solution and have a acrylic GPU block.

[AnonymousGuy]

Mayhem X1 clear in my servers have gone 2 years or so without maintenance before being disassembled for other reasons.  It does need topping off every 6 months or so.

[fonzz1e]

On 9/29/2020 at 6:14 PM, Deli said:

I really like the matte-black industrial look. Alphacool TPV is the same as EK ZMT. Or Tygon 6012 Norprene is similar type of material.

these EPDM are really good since it doesn't have plasticizer leeching into your loop

[mbntr]

10 hours ago, fonzz1e said:

these EPDM are really good since it doesn't have plasticizer leeching into your loop

that's exactly the reason I switched, then I noticed that they look way better

[HM-2]

On 10/2/2020 at 2:21 PM, mbntr said:

that's exactly the reason I switched, then I noticed that they look way better

I also went ZMT for ease of use but it actually looks great too. Gives a nice industrial vibe.

 

[alyen]

On 9/29/2020 at 3:14 AM, Deli said:

I really like the matte-black industrial look. Alphacool TPV is the same as EK ZMT. Or Tygon 6012 Norprene is similar type of material.

 

6 hours ago, HM-2 said:

I also went ZMT for ease of use but it actually looks great too. Gives a nice industrial vibe.

I always thought matte black looked good and is what I would do if I chose to build a custom loop.